ACT-Wazalendo calls for improved infrastructure to unlock Pemba

Micheweni, Pemba. ACT-Wazalendo, the opposition party, has emphasised the need for a fully-fledged port and airport to unlock Pemba's economic potential.

Speaking on the fourth day of the party’s rally in Micheweni, Pemba, Vice Chairman Ismail Jussa Ladhu stated that these infrastructures are crucial for the island's development and global connectivity.

Jussa criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promise regarding the port and pointed out that the airport construction is stalled despite the union government securing Sh1.1 trillion in funding for the project.

“Do you know why the airport project is stuck? It is due to political interference. The authorities wanted to replace the local joint venture partner because he was unyielding to their demands, which has resulted in the project's stagnation,” Jussa said.

He further explained, “The high prices of food and other goods in Pemba are due to the lack of a port where large ships can dock and offload containers. Businesspeople do not absorb losses; they pass these costs onto the final consumer.”

Regarding the stalled Wete-Chake Road project, Jussa accused the authorities of undermining the contractor, as the contract was awarded by the previous Seventh Phase government.

“For a road to be constructed, compensation must be paid to those whose land the road will pass through. However, many people have yet to be compensated,” Jussa added.

On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, Zanzibar’s Second Vice President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, criticized Mecco, the company responsible for the road project, for failing to meet contractual obligations. He warned that if the company does not complete the project as agreed, it will be barred from future tenders on the island.

Hemed made this statement during his visit to inspect various government projects on the island. He highlighted the significant negligence of some contractors, which has led to substantial losses for the government and impeded development goals.

The 22-kilometer road project, costing Sh26.6 billion, was signed in 2022 and was initially scheduled for completion in August 2024. The project has been delayed, and the contractor has been granted an additional five months, with a new deadline set for January 2025.